View source for St Robert of Newminster Church, Morpeth

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox church
| name = St Robert's Church
| fullname = St Robert of Newminster Church
| other name = 
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| image = St Robert of Newminster Church, Morpeth.jpg
| image_size = 
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| caption = 
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| pushpin label position = 
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| coordinates = {{Coord|55.1683|-1.6924|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| osgridref = {{gbmappingsmall|NZ196860}}
| location = [[Morpeth, Northumberland]]
| country = England
| denomination = [[Roman Catholic]]
| website = [http://strobertsmorpeth.com/ StRobertsMorpeth.com]
| status = [[Parish church]]
| founded date =
| founder = Fr Lowe
| dedication = [[Robert of Newminster]]
| consecrated date = 1 August 1850
| functional status = Active
| heritage designation = [[Grade II listed building|Grade II listed]]
| designated date = 22 August 1986<ref name=list>[https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101156182-roman-catholic-church-of-st-robert-morpeth St Robert’s Church, Morpeth], ''British Listed Buildings'', retrieved 26 April 2022</ref>
| architect = Thomas Gibson
| style = [[English Gothic architecture|Early English Gothic]]
| groundbreaking = 20 August 1848
| completed date = 13 September 1849
| construction cost = £2,400
| parish = Morpeth
| deanery = St Benet Biscop<ref name=dir>[https://diocesehn.org.uk/find-a-church/ Directory] from [[Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle]], retrieved 27 April 2022</ref>
| diocese = [[Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle|Hexham and Newcastle]]
| province = [[Archdiocese of Liverpool|Liverpool]]
}}
'''St Robert of Newminster Church''' is a [[Roman Catholic]] [[parish church]] in [[Morpeth, Northumberland]], England. It was built from 1848 to 1849 in the [[English Gothic architecture|Early English Gothic]] style. It is located on Oldgate in the town, overlooking the [[River Wansbeck]]. It is a Grade II listed building.<ref>[https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1156182 Roman Catholic Church of St Robert], ''[[Historic England]]'', retrieved 26 April 2022</ref>

==History==
===Foundation===
From the mid-1600s, Catholics in Morpeth would worship in various places in the area. [[Jesuits]] would come from [[Longhorsley]] to celebrate [[Mass in the Catholic Church|Mass]] in Morpeth. In 1767, it was recorded that Catholics used a house in [[Bullers Green]] as a [[chapel]]. In 1778, a house that was situated opposite the current church was bought to be used as a chapel. It became St Bede's Chapel and had a [[clergy house|presbytery]] next to it. Construction of the chapel and presbytery was £850 and it was paid by a Thomas Riddell from Swinburne. In 1779, [[Benedictines]] from [[Douai]] came to Morpeth and started to serve the [[Christian mission|mission]] in and around Morpeth.<ref name=stock>[[Historic England]], [https://taking-stock.org.uk/building/morpeth-st-robert-of-newminster/ Morpeth – St Robert of Newminster], ''Taking Stock'', retrieved 26 April 2022</ref>

===Construction===
In 1848, plans were drawn up by the priest, a Fr Lowe, for the construction of St Robert of Newminster Church. Fundraising started and on 20 August 1848 the foundation stone of the church was laid. On 13 September 1849, the church was opened and on 1 August 1850 the church was consecrated by [[William Hogarth (bishop)|William Hogarth]], the [[Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District (England)|Apostolic Vicar of the Northern District]]. 

Decoration of the church took three years to do after its opening. The stained glass was done by [[William Wailes]]. The decorating was done by a Mr Gill. The [[rood screen]] was made by a local workman, Mr Manners. The [[Organ (music)|church organ]] came from an old local chapel in Newcastle and was brought over by a Mr Davies. The total cost of the church came to £2,400, of which £1004 was contributed by Fr Lowe.<ref name=stock/>

As there is no clear record, [[Historic England]] suggests four possible people as the architect of the church. There are original drawings of the church by a Mr C. Brown. A history of the [[Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle]], ''Down Your Aisles'' (published 2000), credits Thomas Gibson who also designed St Wilfrid's Church in [[Bishop Auckland]] and St Osmund's Church in [[Gainford, County Durham|Gainford]]. The parish priest at the time of construction, Fr Lowe, credits a surveyor, Mr White, for designing the original interior furnishings. Also, according to [[Nikolaus Pevsner]] it is likely that Fr Lowe helped the design.<ref name=stock/>

===Developments===
In 1857, the [[stations of the cross]] were added to the church. They were replaced in 1948. In 1860, statues of the [[Apostles in the New Testament|apostles]] were placed above the stations of the cross. In 1864, the flooring was replaced and a heating system was installed. In 1869, a statue of Fr Lowe was added. In 1895, the church was redecorated by the Atkinson Brothers of Newcastle and was reopened after the redecoration by [[Thomas Wilkinson (bishop of Hexham and Newcastle)|Thomas Wilkinson]], the [[Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle]]. In 1898, a new [[baptismal font]] and [[high altar]] were given to the church by [[John Hedley (bishop)|John Hedley]], [[Bishop of Newport and Menevia]] who was born in Morpeth and lived in Collingswood House, which would become the [[clergy house|presbytery]]. In 1904, electric lights were installed. Around 1920, [[Altar rail|altar rails]] designed by [[Sir Giles Gilbert Scott]] were added to the church. In 1965, a [[pulpit]] was installed and the church was again redecorated. In 1969, the Benedictines left the parish and the priests from the diocese came to serve the community and continue to do so.<ref name=stock/>

==Parish==
The parish is in a partnership with St Bede's Church in [[Bedlington]]. There are two Sunday [[Mass in the  Catholic Church|Masses]] in St Robert's Church, at 9:00am and 11:00am.<ref name=dir/>

==Interior==
<gallery>
St Robert of Newminster Church interior, Morpeth by Steve Ellwood.jpg|Interior
St Robert of Newminster Church organ, Morpeth by Steve Ellwood.jpg|Organ
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle]]
* {{commons category inline|St Robert of Newminster Church, Morpeth}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official|http://strobertsmorpeth.com/}}
* [https://diocesehn.org.uk/church/st-robert-of-newminster/ Diocesan site]

{{Morpeth, Northumberland}}
{{Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Robert of Newminster Church, Morpeth}}
[[Category:Morpeth, Northumberland]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic churches completed in 1849]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic churches in Northumberland]]
[[Category:Religious organizations established in 1849]]
[[Category:Grade II listed churches in Northumberland]]
[[Category:Grade II listed Roman Catholic churches in England]]
[[Category:English Gothic architecture in Northumberland]]
[[Category:1849 establishments in England]]
[[Category:19th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in the United Kingdom]]